Wet weather is causes cancellations everywhere. ADB’s Tech Ed Mat Boyd struggles to find a place to ride his 2024 Yamaha YZ450F.
This last month has been frustrating, every time I’ve ridden the 2024 Yamaha YZ450F long termer it has been in the mud and every time I have tried to race the race has been canceled due to it being washed out by rain. Just now I’m sitting here writing this on a Sunday when I should be racing but the club point score at Lake Macquarie Motorcycle Club was canceled due to torrential rain. In fact for the first time ever, all three Hunter clubs Cessnock, Maitland and Lakes has had there round one club point scores canceled due to rain this year.
I really feel for these clubs because what people don’t realise is that these clubs are non-profit and need to run events to make enough money to operate. Calling off events due to rain after they have already paid for track preps is not a viable way to stay financial enough to operate. The clubs don’t want to cancel these races and sure I grew up doing mud races like many others but when there is the potential for riders to drown from being trapped under the bikes in foot deep water then I really believe the clubs have made the right decisions. Sure we all want to ride but this sport is dangerous enough, there is absolutely no need to make it worse for ourselves.
These mud rides have made me nervous to ride as the last thing I want to do is have even a small tip over on my wrist. Even though it is feeling good it is only back to about 80% and I really don’t want to go all the way back to the beginning of the healing process again. The doctors always tell you healing takes longer when you get older but I had no idea it was to this extent. It’s been frustrating but I’m slowly building the strength back in my wrist and I’m riding again without it affecting me so that’s a big win.
The 2024 Yamaha YZ450F has been great. I haven’t done anything to it the past month apart from ride it, wash it, clean the air filter and then repeat. It will be due for another oil change soon but I’ll leave that one for next month.
So far my favourite modification would have to be the hydraulic clutch. The 2024 Yamaha YZ450F clutch holds a lot of heat which means if you are as finicky as me then you will be constantly adjusting the clutch freeplay. The hydraulic clutch has totally eliminated the need to do this which I’m loving.
With the suspension I found myself being a little more timid on the bike and not charging into braking bumps or jump faces as hard so I actually softened up the suspension to be a little gentler on my wrist. To do this I just went five clicks softer on the compression clickers both front and rear. Luckily the KYB suspension is very sensitive to adjustments and this took some harshness out of my hands and off my wrist but as my wrist has gotten better I have found myself creeping back towards my original settings.
MAT BOYD
2024 YAMAHA YZ450F
RRP
$15,149.00 INC GST
WARRANTY
Three months, parts only
DISTRIBUTOR
Yamaha Australia
INTERNET
SO FAR
TOTAL HOURS 16
MODS THIS MONTH: Wash and clean air filter
MODS NEXT MONTH: Oil change